I’ve noticed that some people who move past age 50 start coasting—living off the successes of the past, no longer taking risks, breezing along on cruise control. Sometimes it has to do with having less physical energy. Sometimes it’s just a protection reaction to hang on to everything that has been acquired and accumulated.

Last week, I had such great feedback from my reflections on the legacy left by my mentor Tony Hostetler. So, I decided to finish out the remaining four of the nine characteristics this week that I learned from Tony and posted the day he died, 10/11/12.

“Do what ever you do with all your might,” was something I learned from Tony. While my wife knew Tony her entire life, I didn’t meet him until he was already 63. But over the last 26½ years, I’ve watched Tony live out the advice of King Solomon who said, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom”(Ecclesiastes 9:10). Apostle Paul, gave a slight variation, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Tony was proficient with these admonitions in the 21st century.

It didn’t matter if Tony was working out at the gym at age 85, he was still winning cycling competitions. When he was giving pastoral care at the church, he would be at the hospital at 5:30am to make sure he got to pray with a patient before surgery. If he went to do a visit at a nursing home or in the maternity center, he would take his harmonica along and play it with all his might if welcomed. When he was caring for his ailing wife Ada, he gave it everything he had—until family and friends repeatedly insisted she needed professional care.

Here’s a few questions to ask yourself:

Can you identify one area of your life where you know you aren’t really giving it all you’ve got?

Are you investing in the things that matter most or are there things you should let go of?

What is one thing you will do this week to counter the tendency to coast?

QUESTION: What have I missed that should be added?Share it in the comment section below.

One response to With Everything You’ve Got

Several years ago, I reached a point physically of no longer being able to “give life my all,” due to illness. I asked God to heal me so that I could be of more service. While my disease is not gone, it is in remission! Through answered prayer I am able to do more then I could have ever imagined – including working near full-time, exercising, entertaining & embracing life. For me, my vitality is directly connected to my relationship with God. He has allowed me to experience joy in this season. Each day, I renew my commitment to be available to the Lord, and desire to be a blessing & encouragement to to others. My goal is to finish the race with a smile on my face.